Gill To Slap Notice On Naqvi For Defamatory Comments

The chief executive of Doordarshan and AIR, SS Gill, has decided to serve a legal notice on the minister of state for information and broadcasting, M A Naqvi, for making defamatory statements against him.

"My lawyers would be serving a legal notice on M A Naqvi, minister of state for I&B, after which a court case would be filed," Gill, the lone permanent member on the Prasar Bharati board, told Business Standard yesterday.

However, Naqvi said Gill did not have a strong case even if he finally went to court seeking damages. "First of all, I did not name anybody in any statement and, secondly, I'd be happy if Gill moves the court as then lot of misconceptions would get cleared."

 

While, according to Gill, the minister for state has called him corrupt in a programme on Star TV, Naqvi maintains he was talking in general about Prasar Bharati.

Gill has been accused of misleading the Prasar Bharati board wherein he managed to corner all financial powers. After the first meeting of the board in December, the clause relating to financial powers read: "The chief executive may exercise the powers of secretary I&B. In consultation with the chairman, he may exercise powers vested in the ministry of finance and the department of personnel and training."

The criticism against Gill has been on this account. As long as the fund, as prescribed for the Prasar Bharati, has not been created, the fledgling corporation should have relied on the advise of the Union government on how to conduct its financial dealings and Gill did not consult the chairman.

According to Gill, he did not mislead anybody and certainly not a person of the late Nikhil Chakravartty's stature who was the first chairman of the Prasar Bharati. "The ministry has been sitting over many things, including the framework for forming rules and regulations for various appointments in DD and AIR and financial matters."

Gill has been accused of clearing projects worth crores when, any proposal over Rs 4 crore had to get government clearance.

As which has provided the Prasar Bharati with seed fund to function and would continue financial aid till such time as the Board is adequately financially independent.

Gill's defence: "Let them prove corruption charges against me...I"ll fight to the finish." Gill has declared that he would challenge in court any move to remove him from Prasar Bharati.